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Risk: Know the general risks, as well as the specific risk, for your area and residence. Readiness: Develop a comprehensive plan of what you need to do in case of a hurricane emergency. Response: React in a timely and appropriate manner to emerging risks. Know what actions to perform after a storm. Specific plans to protect: People in your life, property, pets, important papers and documents, prescriptions, personal needs (food, water, and daily living essentials), photos of your house and property for insurance purposes and any priceless items, such as heirlooms or personal photographs and papers. Planning and preparation for a hur- ricane unfortunately is not a one-size- fits-all category. This especially can be challenging for those who are living alone, residing in a structure unlikely to fare well with major hurricane winds or significant flooding, lack reliable trans- portation, have medical disabilities or significant medial needs, do not have the financial resources to pay for necessary items for a period of time without any income or have enough money available to purchase necessary items if ATMs and banks are closed or not functioning. For The Daily News file photo The Old Bayou neighborhood in Dickinson was decimated by Hurricane Harvey flooding in 2017. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Residents in boats make their way up Deats Road in Dickinson on Aug. 28, 2017, after historic flood- ing caused by Hurricane Harvey. those with these needs, it is important to learn what resources are available from the county, city, state and federal government prior to the onset of hurri- cane season. Given the expectation of an ex- tremely active season with some of the conditions favorable for rapid intensifi- cation (low wind shear and extra-warm Gulf, Caribbean and Tropical Atlantic surface water temperatures), now is the time to consider what options you may have if a major storm and/or rapid intensification appears likely for any storms threatening to hit the mid- to upper-Texas coast. One option, if you have the means to do so, would be to consid- er evacuating early before any of- ficial evacuation orders are issued. Another option would be to check what assistance is available if you would need help with evacuation or sheltering in place. If you live in a structure unlikely to do well in the case of major storm-force winds or are in a zone subject to tidal flooding or rain-caused flooding, you might ask neighbors, friends or relatives if you could shelter with them. I am aware of several indi- viduals who stayed with neighbors with two-story houses during Hur- ricane Ike in 2008 when it became clear that their homes likely were to flood. Another person relocated to a nearby high-rise parking garage that enabled them to avoid flood- ing. While not ideal, it served its purpose. Stan Blazyk is a life-long weather en- thusiast, long-time Galveston resident and author of “A Century of Galveston Weather.” He has written about weather for The Daily News for more than a decade.12 | The Daily News | Hurricane Preparedness | 2024 From staff reports W hen the tempera- tures dropped in February 2021 and millions of Texans lost power for days, many resi- dents in Galveston County had a unique advantage — hurricane preparedness. Items that got Galveston County residents through Winter Storm Uri in 2021 were many of the items saved up from the 2020 hurricane season, such as portable batteries, a supply of bottled water and food and other such items for coping when the electricity goes out. As the 2024 hurricane season gets underway, it’s well worth noting what items proved useful during the storm as residents pre- pare to withstand inclem- ent weather, according to officials with the National Weather Service in League It’s time to restock, get ready for hurricane season City. “People in this area are more familiar with hurricane prep, but a lot of the same lessons do apply to extreme cold,” said Dan Reilly, a me- teorologist with the National Weather Service in League City. “You need to be pre- pared for a period without power and water perhaps.” The headline advice about getting ready for the hur- ricane season remains the same as it ever was, officials said. Everyone should make a plan, build an emergency kit and stay informed. The Federal Emergency Management Administration has published some guid- ance about what to store up on during inclement weath- er, including medication, disinfectant, pet supplies and other food. The Red Cross recom- mends buying food and water for three days, a PANTRY CHECKLIST Canned beans, fruit or vegetables you can eat at room temperature Canned tuna, chicken or Spam Canned soup stew or chili (non-condensed) Beef jerky Nuts and dried fruit Peanut butter and bread, for sandwiches Peanut butter or cheese crackers Granola and energy bars Boxed or prepackaged juice drinks Pudding snacks Cookies or crackers Energy drinks, like Gatorade Protein-based meal replacement powders that can be mixed with water Protein bars Bottled water flashlight, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, a first-aid kid, a multi-purpose tool, cell phone chargers and copies of personal documents. Grocery stores may have shortages of some essential supplies in the hours before and days after a hurricane comes ashore. Many county residents also have taken to installing generators since plunging temperatures led to a near total collapse of the power grid in 2021, leaving mil- lions of Texans freezing in the dark for days. The faith of some power consumers in the state grid’s ability to meet demand any time, especially in deep summer, has been shaken to the point that a Plan B seems prudent, even at a cost of more than $10,000. For many county resi- dents, the winter freeze was the last straw when looking ahead at hurricane season. Larry Summer, of Friends- wood, actually beat the rush STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Ace Hardware employee Cricket Lloyd works beside boxes of generators in the warehouse of the store in League City on June 15, 2021. for generators when he installed his in June 2015, shortly after losing power during a bad storm, he said. “We had this lake house up near Crockett, and every time a hurricane was coming, we’d go up there,” Summer said. “One time, we got crossways and didn’t make it. One night we lost power, it got hot, and I told my wife we wouldn’t do this again.” At the time Summer in- stalled his generator, he was about the only home in the neighborhood with one, he said. But now, anytime the area loses power, you can walk outside and hear gen- erators churning across the neighborhood, he said. Generators can be a use- ful tool during bad weather, but residents should read safety manuals, Reilly said. Officials have seen too many instances of carbon monoxide poisoning. So, residents shouldn’t run generators in poorly ventilat- ed areas, Reilly said. 2024 | Hurricane Preparedness | The Daily News | 13 High Premiums? Call Jack Brown Agency for a Free Quote Today! www.jackbrownagency.com HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE! ARE YOU PREPARED? We can prepare all of your Insurance needs! Home • Auto • Flood • Wind Life • Boats • Annuities JACK BROWN INSURANCE AGENCY Agent 3032 Marina Bay Drive Suite 100 League City, TX 77573-4668 jackbrownagency@outlook.com 281.334.2886 Trusted, Quality CRAFTSMANSHIP ~ Since 1983 Kitchen Design, High-End Custom Cabinetry & Gourmet Appliances For Kitchen Remodels & New Homes We Love Working With Designers & Contractors! 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GM20155 in times of need we’re here for our community 14 | The Daily News | Hurricane Preparedness | 20242024 | Hurricane Preparedness | The Daily News | 15 From staff reports I f a hurricane brings ma- jor disaster to Galveston County, emergency man- agement officials have some new, better ways to keep track of their response to a crisis. On the county’s infor- mation dashboard, a map depicts disaster reports and responses in real time. Using it, the county can pinpoint where power is out and where homes are flooded. It pinpoints where rescue crews have been dispatched and who still needs help. The county developed the dashboard over the past years, using lessons it learned from disasters like Hurri- cane Harvey, the February 2021 freeze and even the COVID-19 pandemic, when the county used its disaster preparation system to man- age a mass vaccination hub. “We’re able to visualize what resources we have and where they are,” said Scott Tafuri, the county’s emergen- cy management coordinator. “We’re able to figure out how to allocate our resources better and to figure out what teams to bring in.” The dashboard is an im- provement over previous sys- tems in which the emergency management center was coor- dinating using shared Google documents, Tafuri said. The dashboard is the kind of incremental improvement to disaster planning that oc- curs in a place where disasters are common, and planning can sometimes seem rote. The advice ahead of the At- lantic Hurricane season remains as a consistent as it ever was: Have a plan. Have an emergen- cy kit ready to go. Make sure you’re signed up for alerts. Some recent disasters might provide some insight into what kinds of supplies people should have in their kits, Tafuri said. For instance, the freeze knocked down cell towers around the county. If that happens in the future, people should consider buying an emergency radio, so, at the very least, they can tune into radio broadcasts carrying important information. They also should add photographs to their kits. Hurricane Nicholas in 2021 caused wind damage around the county and was particu- larly unkind to fences. People should take pictures of their property before any damage occurs to help with insurance claims, Tafuri said. The county attempts to refresh the message to get residents to think about their storm plans at the beginning of storm season. The county has produced public service announcement videos on its website. One features Galveston County Judge Mark Henry giving preparation device in front of a 3D rendering of a storm surge. “A lot of the years it’s the same message,” Tafuri said. “We have to figure out how to repackage it to catch people’s attention and say ‘Oh, yeah. That’s a good point.’” Lessons learned help build county’s hurricane preparedness STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photos ABOVE: Galveston County Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Scott Tafuri speaks about hurricane preparedness May 5, 2022, at the Office of Emergency Management headquarters in League City. BELOW: Tafuri talks about resources available to the public in a disaster situation.16 | The Daily News | Hurricane Preparedness | 2024 From staff reports I f the need arises for people to evacuate, there is an equal need for your pets to go with you. Don’t wait for disaster to strike — plan now! Follow these steps to be prepared. 1. Make sure your pets always wear clearly marked identification. Dogs should wear leather or nylon collars with tags. Cats should wear break- away or safety collars, and, yes, they can wear tags, too. Remember, if your pets be- come frightened, they could get away from you. 2. Consider microchipping your pet as a means of per- manent identification. If your pet is already chipped, is your information current? Check with your provider today. 3. Be certain all animals are up-to-date on their vac- cinations. Are they wearing their tags? 4. Research safe, welcom- ing places to take your pet if an evacuation is called. Identify an evacuation route before the storm hits. 5. Make arrangements for family members or friends to evacuate your pet in case you are out of town when an evacuation is ordered. 6. Don’t forget your birds, reptiles or pocket pets (ham- sters, gerbils, etc.). They need your protection, too. 7. Don’t forget the importance of planning for horses and other farm animals. Their size, shelter requirements, vaccination needs and transportation needs make planning crucial. 8. Prepare a portable pet disaster kit. Keep your im- portant papers safe by using a sealed, waterproof bag. Prepping pets for hurricanes EVACUATION CHECKLIST Medical and vaccination records; specific care instructions, if needed Medication and dosage instructions (two-week supply) Flea, tick and heartworm preventive Photos of you and your pets together Carrier or cage (labeled) Pet bed and blanket Water and food bowls Two-week supply of water and food Nonelectric (manual) can opener if feeding canned food Leash, collar and harness Favorite toys and treats Paper towels and bags for cleanup Flashlight and batteries The Daily News file photo Celeste Johnston sits with her dog after being picked up by Keith and Dell Corder on Aug. 27, 2017, following the flooding from Hurricane Harvey. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Ellie Mamud carries her dogs across a bridge flooded by the rising waters of Clear Creek in League City on Aug. 26, 2017.TOTAL LOSS TOTAL LOSS If your vehicle was flooded and your insurance company declared your vehicle a total loss, and you are not satisfied with the value being offered, you have the right to invoke the appraisal clause and hire an independent auto appraiser. CALL ROY BENT, JR. CALL ROY BENT, JR. 1300 ROLLINGBROOK DR. STE. 406, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77521 877-845-2368 • 832-279-2368 www.HoustonAutoAppraisers.com www.Galvestonwbm.com Locally Owned and Operated by Kaleb Apffel PREMIER STOCKING DEALER FOR THE NEWS YOU WANT DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX GALVNEWS.COM/NEWSLETTERS 2024 | Hurricane Preparedness | The Daily News | 17Report power outages: 888-866-7456 Be prepared for Power Outages • Be prepared to be without power for days (not hours). • Confirm backup plans for users of powered medical equipment. • Stock up on batteries, flashlights, bottled water and non-perishable food. • Stay far away from any downed power lines and equipment. • Confirm appliances are in “off” position if power goes out. • Turn off breaker box main switch if flooding is probable. • Adhere completely to portable generator manufacturers’ safety warnings. • Portable generators should power individual appliances, not entire homes. • Home generators • Storm windows/shutters • Tree removal and trimming • Home solar power systems Don’t wait until a disaster strikes. Take preventative measures to protect your home with our Disaster Preparedness Loan to help prepare for the unexpected. Here’s how you can update your home to withstand a storm: Subject to membership eligibility. Rates and terms based on borrower’s credit qualifications and credit score. IS YOUR HOME DISASTER- PROOF? 800.231.6053 | AMOCOfcu.org 18 | The Daily News | Hurricane Preparedness | 20242024 | Hurricane Preparedness | The Daily News | 19Next >